There was a 'click' and a gurgle as the fluid in which Mr L was suspended in drained away, then the door to the suspension chamber popped open. Mr L twitched as the cold air hit his face, then started to cough up the fluid in his lungs. Nastasia placed a bowl next to Mr L for this purpose and waited until he was breathing normally.
"How are you?" Nastasia said.
Mr L slowly sat up on the gurney, blinking and wiping off some of the slimy fluid that dripped off of him in strings. Nastasia handed him a towel.
"I feel... better. My chest doesn't hurt and I think I can walk without assistance." Mr L said in a flat monotone. Without waiting he stood up and made to climb out of the chamber.
"Wait." Nastasia said. "Here is a dressing gown and towels. You will need to shower off that fluid and remove that coverall. Oh, and please put the towel on when you get out. Take care, that fluid is slippery. Now hold still, I need to remove the tube from your neck."
Mr L complied and waited as Nastasia inserted a stitch and dressed the small wound on his neck. He felt...strange but had no idea why. It felt strange to be breathing air again, although his sinuses were still sore from coughing up all that fluid. Still, he felt better than he had before entering the tank - the chest infection was gone, as was the insistent dark red throbbing of that wound on his back.
Once Nastasia had finished, he stood up and climbed out of the chamber. He had an urge to get ready and to do what was required by the Count. His last words to the Count weighed heavily on his mind, prior to sedation and the fact that he must have been unconscious for most of the past two days. He ignored the external steps and jumped straight down, only to skid into the arms of Nastasia.
"Hey, careful there! Don't be so hasty! I told you it was slippery and we can't have you getting injured again!" She guided him towards the showers then in a tight voice added. " Um, here is your towel, Mr L."
"Uh, thanks - only I guess I will have some proper clothes other than this dressing gown?" Mr L enquired.
"Of course, they will be brought here. Once you have showed please report to me for a check-up. Let me know if there is anywhere that hurts when you move."
Mr L stepped into the shower and peeled off the coverall. It would be a relief to get that slimy fluid off him. He looked down at his arms, the scars were a livid pink but the skin on top was smooth and it didn't hurt to touch them. The same could be said for his legs.
He got out, dried himself with the fresh towels provided and paused to look at his reflection. In it he saw a tall man of indeterminate age with a large, well-kept moustache and a mass of hair which would be dark brown and wavy once dry and which came down to the nape of his neck. He could see that whatever he did he kept himself reasonably trim as he could see his muscle tone on his limbs and torso. However, he could not ignore some of the bruising, particularly on his legs and arms which had not been entirely removed by the treatment, or the pink welts like slashes on his back. He felt a steady rise of anger as he viewed himself.
"Master L, the Count is here and would like to speak with you." Mr L felt a rush of nervous energy as he tied the towel round his waist and put the dressing gown on.
"Master L, how are you today?" Said Count Bleck.
"I feel better now, thank you. I wish to serve you Count! Are you to punish me?"
Count Bleck looked puzzled then said "Oh, don't worry about that, all I wish for you is to do as I ask. I need your skills as an engineer to help me in my mission to stop the Man in Red and his minions. "
Count Bleck touched Mr L on his arm. "Also, it will be your opportunity for justice." He said in a low voice. Mr L felt a rush of anger and anxiety.
"I swear fealty to you Count Bleck in that I can aid you and will get my justice!"
He noted that the Count himself had a pile of clothes in his hands.
"The clothes we found you in were fit only for the incinerator, here is a set of clothes for you. There are work clothes in your private quarters. We will meet again for lunch with the rest of my minions in 1 hour. Nastasia, escort Mr L to his quarters once he is ready."
Mr L started to dress behind the screen. This set of clothes comprised a dark green undershirt, a pair of black trousers in a heavy material with a faint sheen to it and a matching tunic with large gold buttons on the breast pockets, and a green silk cravat. In addition to that there was a black cap with a monogram on it resembling a backwards 'L' and a mask over his eyes which tied around the back. Donning the grey leather gloves which were the final part of the outfit he looked in the mirror. He smiled. He felt an unfamiliar feeling of power and favour. His memories were addled but seeing himself he could remember the joy he got from solving problems. From making machinery do his bidding to the joy of flowing water in convoluted pipework.
Then he hesitated. How come he could remember working in mechanical workshops but couldn't for the life of him remember what he'd been doing a week ago? Or having got dressed, what had he worn when he was presumably kidnapped and tortured? Or how he knew how to use a shower when he couldn't remember the last time he'd had one? Enough of this for now - Nastasia is waiting.
Nastasia led him to his quarters. He looked around with some approval. There was a large room with a four-poster bed and canopy, decorated in intricate black and green patterns. Next to the opposite wall under the window was a book case and desk next to the wardrobe. On the furthest wall there was a fireplace and in the corner a door leading to his private bathroom, tiled in white, green and black tiles. Still, not much time to explore as Nastasia was waiting to take him to meet Count Bleck and the others.
Nastasia and Mr L crossed from the homely, well-lit surrounds of the private quarters through the chilly and dark halls, which appeared to be made of black shiny rock. It was quite some distance he thought as they entered a smaller hall and then the main Presence Chamber which was set for 6 including Count Bleck who sat at the head of the table under an elaborately embroidered canopy.
"Listen up 'k?" Nastasia spoke. "We have a new minion amongst us who will greatly aid us in Count Bleck's mission of purification and the creation of a new cosmos. This is no other than Mr L. So please take your time to introduce yourselves and then we shall eat, k?"
Mr L looked around in bewilderment, then shook himself. It would not do to show weakness now. There are plenty of questions but these must wait. It seemed like a motley assortment. Apart from Nastasia and the Count, there was a young green-skinned girl in a brightly coloured frock, a very large bearded man who seemed only a little shorter than Mr L despite sitting down and a slim man dressed as a jester and who wore a black and white mask, which at first appeared to be solid but which presumably mirrored his expressions underneath.
"My name is Mimi, name anyone and I can become them. Even you. That would be fun! But don't make me angry!" The young girl said, smiling coquettishly.
"I am O'Chunks, the Count's faithful henchmen, feared by all who diss him. Those who have survived a Chunking I can count on the fingers of me clenched fist! But I'm happy to help you in all things gym related - hope to see ya there!"
"I am Dimentio, master of dimensions, pleaser of crowds yet often goes unseen like the gentle summer mists which form a mighty thunderhead. And like a storm I can strike like lightning."
Silence. Then Mr L. realised he was supposed to speak. Better think fast! He cleared his throat.
"I am Mr L, the Green Thunder, in that when you hear me it is already too late, as it will be for my sworn enemy, the Man in Red."
Mr L sat down, feeling drained. It seemed a bit off to be put on the spot like that, but then there will be other challenges and it was paramount he succeeded and did not show weakness.
"So, now we are all acquainted, lunch is served." Count Bleck raised his left hand and a Koopa servant brought a tureen of soup. It was only then that Mr L realised how hungry he was. This was followed by a spicy stew served with salad then some fresh fruit. Count Bleck had declared this to be a day of rest so afterwards everybody went to the Recreation room. After some awkward small talk, Mr L went back to his quarters, unsure what to do next. He soon found he was being followed by Dimentio.
"Someone being dark and mysterious? I thought that was my job as the charming magician!" Dimentio said in a surprising youthful sing-song voice.
"Er no, its just I need a rest - there is a lot to take in. Why do you ask?" Mr L said. He looked at the magician and felt unease and tension in his gut. Why would that be - it's not like we had met before. But try as he might he could not feel anything but suspicion.
"Well perhaps I could help you out, you seemed lost" Dimentio said with a note of concern, which to Mr L appeared to have a touch of mockery about it.
"I'm not lost, I know where my quarters are from here, besides today we are supposed to rest. I am sure that the Count will have orders for me".
"No need to be so defensive!" Said Dimentio. "What I am saying is that we should work together. With my knowlege and your strength we will be unstoppable. Just think when all these plans come to fruition we will be kings of our own cosmos! But I need you to help me."
"What do you mean by that?" Said Mr L.
"Well, we should work together." Dimentio said, a smile in his voice as he walked behind Mr L and placed his hands on his shoulders. "Like brothers, I am the instrument of Chaos, you are its Protector."
Mr L stiffened, then turned, grabbed one of DImentio's hands, spun and placed his foot in the back of his knee, neatly flipping Dimentio on the floor and keeping him pinned there.
"Never touch me again!" Mr L hissed at DImentio. Dimentio himself was too stunned to speak as Mr L had moved that fast. Mr L released him and stalked off to his quarters.
Dimentio got off the floor. He could feel his cheeks burning with anger and humiliation. Master magician floored by that jumped up peasant! He was grateful that there was no-one around to witness that.
"Your card has been marked, Mr L." Dimentio said to himself as he walked back to the recreation room.
Mr L paced along the length of his bedchamber, wondering what had just happened. Why had he done that? Dimentio wasn't actually threatening him. But there was something inside him that said he was dangerous. And that tone of voice - it seemed like he regarded Mr L as some kind of pet or a toy. And I am supposed to work with him?!
He took a deep breath and started to calm down. Like brothers, we should be like brothers. The phrase stuck in his mind - why? He didn't remember having a brother, but then he didn't remember a lot of things. But for some reason he felt that Dimentio was danger.
Again that phrase 'like a brother'. And then it struck him. He had heard during the discussions over lunch about the mechanical workshop and repair bay that Count Bleck had mentioned. If it was as well stocked then perhaps there was an opportunity. It struck him as strange that he knew about what a family was but he had no idea how it applied to him. Still, he felt a feeling of loss in not having one.
Perhaps that was it. He would have his own family of mechanical brothers to do his bidding and in return, he would ensure that they were never in want of maintenance. In this he would realise Count Bleck's vision and wreck righteous vengeance on the Man in Red.
Brothers. That was it. Mr L smiled at that thought. Perhaps Dimentio had his use.
